Our last words on Broadway. Promise.

Did we mention that we had been to Broadway? Can’t recall. Anyway, we have. And here are a few thoughts on things we cared for and didn’t care for.

How the other half lives

Move along now. No theatre to see here. The West End Whingers are conducting a bit of a social experiment this week.

In an attempt to understand what ordinary, well-adjusted people do with their spare time they have cancelled all their theatre appointments for the week and are embarking on other activities with a view to exploring the possibility of adopting an alternative lifestyle.

So, here is our Mass Observation diary recording our activities.

Review – The Emperor Jones, National Theatre

Andrew would have loved this one.

The play that launched Eugene O’Neill’s career The Emperor Jones turned into a music and dance spectacle with a multi-cultural cast and all over without an interval in a mere 70 minutes.

Where could Andrew have been? Well, as regular readers will know, since seeing the abysmal Take Flight at the Menier Chocolate Factory Andrew’s been inspired to do a little of his own flying solo. Only last Thursday he inveigled himself to join a posse of fellow theatrical bloggers at The Bacchae without so much as a nod to poor Phil who was desperate to see Alan Cumming’s bottom for the nth time.

Review – The Enchantment, National Theatre

After a string of disappointments the big question hovering over this evening was: would the West End Whingers finally finish something they started?

Andrew had been fortunate enough to enjoy both acts of Lady Be Good last week, but poor Phil has seen only half of each of the last three plays he’s attended.

So the stakes were high for the National’s production of The Enchantment by Victoria Benedictsson in a new version by Clare Bayley.

Review – Into the Woods, Royal Opera House Linbury Studio

 

It’s been quite a week for the Whingers.

No sooner was Phil back from a four day Tuscan jolly than Andrew went off on one (so no change there then). Andrew is deeply jealous that Phil found himself sharing an eight hour delay with a delightfully animated Sinead (Mrs Jeremy Irons and former girlfriend of George Best) Cusack – but that story is as long as the delay. Let’s just say: straw hat, queuing together at the information desk and shared mints. Ms Cusak surprised Phil by turning right as she boarded the plane, Phil of course (in a triumph of optimism over experience) turned left and had it not been for a locked cockpit would have found himself on the captain’s lap.